Stem cells in the skin

Abstract

In the skin, several distinct stem cell populations have been shown to exist in different compartments. The more extensively studied epidermal stem cells consist of hair follicle bulge epithelial stem cells and, distinct populations of stem cells in the interfollicular epidermis and sebaceous glands. More recently, mesenchymal stem cells have also been identifi ed in the dermis and adipose tissue. The self-renewal capacity of these populations of stem cells in conjunction with their ability to undergo multi-lineage differentiation is being exploited therapeutically for tissue repair, regenerative medicine, and stem cell transplantation.